Given the collapse of the credit markets over the past month, merely solid third-quarter performances are not going to soothe jittery investors. BOSTON - For once, when top U.S. industrials report their earnings over the next two weeks, Wall Street will not be asking "What have you done for me lately?" Investors will fixate on another question, namely: "How bad is it going to get?" General Electric Co has already warned that third-quarter profit could tumble as much as 14 percent as a result of trouble at its huge finance arm. Beyond that, shareholders expect solid profit growth from manufacturers including United Technologies Corp and 3M Co. But given the collapse of the credit markets over the past month, merely solid third-quarter performances are not going to soothe jittery investors. The turmoil triggered a $700 billion...
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